After 18 NBA seasons, Russell Westbrook has retired. A legendary career: NBA’s top 75, 2017 league MVP, nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA, USA Olympic Gold Medalist and the all-time record for triple-doubles.
Developing: The Los Angeles Clippers-Toronto Raptors trade centered on Kawhi Leonard will not be complete until the NBA investigation into the Clippers is over. Statement from the Clippers to ESPN:
For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.
On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues.
We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.
Bill Simmons describes waking up after his colonoscopy:
“I think I’m dead. The anesthesia killed me. Are there more first round picks?…When this trade happened, I had a camera in my ass, and I had Paul George rammed up my ass.”🤣
(h/t @rBillSimmonsPod)
BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
Kinda wild the Raptors gave up more for 35 year old Kawhi Leonard than 27 year old Kawhi Leonard.
Raptors gave up this for 35-year-old Kawhi:
Brandon Ingram
Gradey Dick
2 firsts
1 swap
2 seconds
Raptors gave up this for 27-year-old Kawhi:
DeMar DeRozan
Jakob Pöltl
1 first (Keldon Johnson)
Obviously, the circumstances are different. Leonard after the 2017-18 season had a lot of uncertainty with a weird injury and he wasn't committing to sign anywhere but Los Angeles. Leonard now is coming off a healthy, dominant individual season and fully committed to extending in Toronto.
Still, I don't think anyone could have seen things playing out this way when the Kawhi trade happened in 2018. No chance.
Kawhi Leonard and Toronto Raptors will soon engage to structure out the terms on a two-year extension to lock up the future Hall of Famer through the 2028-29 season, sources say.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing deal sending Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, 2 first-round picks, 1 pick swap and 2 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN. A return to Canada for the Raptors champion and two-time Finals MVP.
BREAKING: LeBron James will continue his NBA career for the 2026-27 season and has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN.